28 April 2011
VENUE & TIME: nib Stadium, Perth, Saturday April 30, 10.05pm (AEST).
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 5 – Crusaders 2, Force 1, Draw 2.
LAST TIME: April 23, 2010 (Perth) – Force 24-16 Crusaders (round 10).
WALKING WOUNDED: Force flanker David Pocock is expected to make his long-awaited return from a knee injury against the Crusaders. In further good news for the Force, fellow backrower Matt Hodgson (shoulder), outside centre Mitch Inman (elbow) and winger David Smith (hamstring) are also expected to be available for selection. The Crusaders welcome back skipper Richie McCaw from the foot injury that has limited him to 29 minutes of action this season, but Dan Carter will spend another week on the sidelines. McCaw will make his return at No.8, replacing Joe Wheeler who has been bracketed on the bench with veteran Reuben Thorne. Corey Flynn and Ben Franks come into the starting front row for Quentin MacDonald and Owen Franks, while Luke Roman replaces Brad Thorn (calf) at starting lock. Thorn will miss the three-match tour of Perth and South Africa while half-back Andy Ellis (thumb) faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines. Kieran Read (rested) and Sam Whitelock (ankle) are also unavailable for the Round 11 clash.
FORM:
Force Past Five:
Weeks 10: Win, 26-21 v Bulls, Perth
Week 9: Win, 27-19 v Brumbies, Canberra
Week 8: Loss, 31-3 v Waratahs, Perth
Week 7: Loss, 26-25 v Rebels, Perth
Week 6: Loss, 51-16 v Stormers, Cape Town
Crusaders:
Week 10: Loss, 26-18 v Highlanders, Nelson
Week 9: Win, 34-16 v Chiefs, Hamilton
Week 8: Win, 27-0 v Bulls, Timaru
Week 7: Bye
Week 6: Win, 44-28 v Sharks, Twickenham
The Force posted back-to-back victories for the first time this season with an inspired 26-21 win over defending champs the Bulls. The win lifted the Force off the bottom of the Australian conference and into fourth spot, but they still remain at the wrong end of the overall ladder in 11th place. The Crusaders had their six-game losing streak snapped by a fired-up Highlanders in Nelson last weekend. The Highlanders' physical approach appeared to fluster a Crusaders side missing McCaw and Carter, with the seven-time champions producing uncharacteristic errors on the way to their second defeat of the campaign. The loss drops the Crusaders to second in spot behind the Blues in the New Zealand conference and fourth on the overall ladder.
WHO'S HOT: Force superstar James O'Connor showed why the Rebels, Reds and Brumbies are banging down his door, producing yet another sensational performance against the Bulls. He kicked six-from-seven with the boot and was a constant menace in attack to lead his side to a memorable win. Skipper Nathan Sharpe and Ben McCalman were also outstanding as the Force held their own against the vaunted Bulls pack. For the Crusaders, Matt Todd's form at openside flanker has been a revelation in McCaw's absence. It will be interesting to see how the 23-year-old fares against Wallabies flanker David Pocock this weekend. Winger Zac Guildford continued his return to form with a decent showing against the Highlanders.
WE THINK: The Force are somewhat of a bogey team for the Crusaders having managed a win and two draws from five meetings against the seven-time Super Rugby champs. The Crusaders don't lose two matches in a row very often and should prove too strong with Richie McCaw back on deck, but the Force won't be intimidated and are more than capable of pulling off the upset. The match-up between James O'Connor and Sonny Bill Williams is worth the price of admission alone in what promises to be an entertaining encounter. Crusaders by 10.
TEAMS:
Force: TBC.
Crusaders: 1. Wyatt Crockett, 2. Corey Flynn , 3. Ben Franks, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Chris Jack , 6. George Whitelock , 7. Matt Todd, 8. Richie McCaw (c), 9. Kahn Fotuali'i, 10. Matt Berquist, 11. Zac Guildford, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Robbie Fruean, 14. Sean Maitland, 15.Israel Dagg.
Reserves: 16. Quentin MacDonald, 17. Owen Franks, 18. Joe Wheeler / Reuben Thorne, 19. Jonathan Poff, 20. Willi Heinz, 21. Tom Marshall, 22. Adam Whitelock.
REFEREE: Vinny Munro
VENUE & TIME: nib Stadium, Perth, Saturday April 30, 10.05pm (AEST).
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 5 – Crusaders 2, Force 1, Draw 2.
LAST TIME: April 23, 2010 (Perth) – Force 24-16 Crusaders (round 10).
WALKING WOUNDED: Force flanker David Pocock is expected to make his long-awaited return from a knee injury against the Crusaders. In further good news for the Force, fellow backrower Matt Hodgson (shoulder), outside centre Mitch Inman (elbow) and winger David Smith (hamstring) are also expected to be available for selection. The Crusaders welcome back skipper Richie McCaw from the foot injury that has limited him to 29 minutes of action this season, but Dan Carter will spend another week on the sidelines. McCaw will make his return at No.8, replacing Joe Wheeler who has been bracketed on the bench with veteran Reuben Thorne. Corey Flynn and Ben Franks come into the starting front row for Quentin MacDonald and Owen Franks, while Luke Roman replaces Brad Thorn (calf) at starting lock. Thorn will miss the three-match tour of Perth and South Africa while half-back Andy Ellis (thumb) faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines. Kieran Read (rested) and Sam Whitelock (ankle) are also unavailable for the Round 11 clash.
FORM:
Force Past Five:
Weeks 10: Win, 26-21 v Bulls, Perth
Week 9: Win, 27-19 v Brumbies, Canberra
Week 8: Loss, 31-3 v Waratahs, Perth
Week 7: Loss, 26-25 v Rebels, Perth
Week 6: Loss, 51-16 v Stormers, Cape Town
Crusaders:
Week 10: Loss, 26-18 v Highlanders, Nelson
Week 9: Win, 34-16 v Chiefs, Hamilton
Week 8: Win, 27-0 v Bulls, Timaru
Week 7: Bye
Week 6: Win, 44-28 v Sharks, Twickenham
The Force posted back-to-back victories for the first time this season with an inspired 26-21 win over defending champs the Bulls. The win lifted the Force off the bottom of the Australian conference and into fourth spot, but they still remain at the wrong end of the overall ladder in 11th place. The Crusaders had their six-game losing streak snapped by a fired-up Highlanders in Nelson last weekend. The Highlanders' physical approach appeared to fluster a Crusaders side missing McCaw and Carter, with the seven-time champions producing uncharacteristic errors on the way to their second defeat of the campaign. The loss drops the Crusaders to second in spot behind the Blues in the New Zealand conference and fourth on the overall ladder.
WHO'S HOT: Force superstar James O'Connor showed why the Rebels, Reds and Brumbies are banging down his door, producing yet another sensational performance against the Bulls. He kicked six-from-seven with the boot and was a constant menace in attack to lead his side to a memorable win. Skipper Nathan Sharpe and Ben McCalman were also outstanding as the Force held their own against the vaunted Bulls pack. For the Crusaders, Matt Todd's form at openside flanker has been a revelation in McCaw's absence. It will be interesting to see how the 23-year-old fares against Wallabies flanker David Pocock this weekend. Winger Zac Guildford continued his return to form with a decent showing against the Highlanders.
WE THINK: The Force are somewhat of a bogey team for the Crusaders having managed a win and two draws from five meetings against the seven-time Super Rugby champs. The Crusaders don't lose two matches in a row very often and should prove too strong with Richie McCaw back on deck, but the Force won't be intimidated and are more than capable of pulling off the upset. The match-up between James O'Connor and Sonny Bill Williams is worth the price of admission alone in what promises to be an entertaining encounter. Crusaders by 10.
TEAMS:
Force: TBC.
Crusaders: 1. Wyatt Crockett, 2. Corey Flynn , 3. Ben Franks, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Chris Jack , 6. George Whitelock , 7. Matt Todd, 8. Richie McCaw (c), 9. Kahn Fotuali'i, 10. Matt Berquist, 11. Zac Guildford, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Robbie Fruean, 14. Sean Maitland, 15.Israel Dagg.
Reserves: 16. Quentin MacDonald, 17. Owen Franks, 18. Joe Wheeler / Reuben Thorne, 19. Jonathan Poff, 20. Willi Heinz, 21. Tom Marshall, 22. Adam Whitelock.
REFEREE: Vinny Munro
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